Original numberplates
Discussion
I have the original numberplates for my car, ACE-style ones with silver raised digits. They are very grubby but it seems the silver does clean up quite well and they don't seem to have any ill-effects from salt. The alumumium black plate needs a rub down and new paint - was the original plate gloss black or matt black? Seems hard to tell.
Anyone know?
Anyone know?
Why not just buy some new ones?
Life's too short, surely?
http://www.classicplatesonline.co.uk/plates.asp?ut...
Life's too short, surely?
http://www.classicplatesonline.co.uk/plates.asp?ut...
Tyre Smoke said:
Why not just buy some new ones?
I am restoring my car not replacing every bit. I understand where mechanical bits need replacing they will be but the car - a one owner car from 1961 - is very original and the plates don't need much to redo. Do the new repro ones has the ACE/Blumells (sp) logos on?Feel free to order me some plates (I'll PM the number to you) then I would happily hang them on the garage wall!!
Tyre Smoke said:
Why not just buy some new ones?
Life's too short, surely?
http://www.classicplatesonline.co.uk/plates.asp?ut...
From what I have noticed, yes you can buy new but they still don't "look" right. The ones displayed in your link prove that theory. You go on to mention about detracting from the vehicle but IMO it does make a difference. Many a time i've wandered around the Goodwood breakfast club or similar car shows and old cars on new pressed 'imitation' old plates do detract from the overall look of the car. Its all in the details for me and the number plates are just another one of those details its nice to see remain true to the period.Life's too short, surely?
http://www.classicplatesonline.co.uk/plates.asp?ut...
alpinemauve said:
I have the original numberplates for my car, ACE-style ones with silver raised digits. They are very grubby but it seems the silver does clean up quite well and they don't seem to have any ill-effects from salt. The alumumium black plate needs a rub down and new paint - was the original plate gloss black or matt black? Seems hard to tell.
Anyone know?
I was in a similar position as I am restoring my Grandfathers '63 Mini in conjunction with my father. Although the car had newer coloured plates when we started the resto, the original number plate seperate letters and backing plates were still stored in a box. Anyone know?
The backing plates were too far gone, a bit bent and rusty, but as they are pressed steel I bought new. We then cleaned and re-painted the original letters, re-drilled all the new fixing holes in the backing plates (as each letter has its own locating pegs) and they have come up really well.
Backing plates we've done in satin black with slver laqured letters which were pretty close to what we had to start with. Pic below. In my view look so much better than any of those in the link above so yes it was certainly worth the relatively little effort to undertake.
Each to their own though
I got a set of the raised digit ones from these guys for my 1960 Daimler SP250. I was very happy with them and they were nice folks to deal with.
http://www.pl8s.co.uk/number-plates-pre-1963.html
http://www.pl8s.co.uk/number-plates-pre-1963.html
One of my bug bears with classics are the wrong type of number plates. I'm not sure what the correct type of paint is but would start with Matt, then try satin then gloss. A company called Jepsons in sheffield make period plates, on their web site it shows how they are made and has a short film of them being sprayed, thry then a see what they use. http://www.jepsonclassicplates.com/
I've used Tippers in the past: http://www.tippersvintageplates.co.uk/ but having just had my Riley restored thought I'd like to keep the original plates so they'll be coming off over the winter for a repaint. Satin black seems closest to their original finish so that's what I'll use.
Blimey!
Apologies chaps, didn't realise you were that concerned about the plates. To me, I look at the overall vehicle condition, number plates are just a legal necessity that detracts from the car's lines.
For what it's worth, matt black with a touch of satin mixed in with it - not quite matt, not quite satin. Definitely not gloss!!
Apologies chaps, didn't realise you were that concerned about the plates. To me, I look at the overall vehicle condition, number plates are just a legal necessity that detracts from the car's lines.
For what it's worth, matt black with a touch of satin mixed in with it - not quite matt, not quite satin. Definitely not gloss!!
JNR77 said:
One of my bug bears with classics are the wrong type of number plates.
Ditto. Although black and white plates were legal until 1973, most cars from 1969 onwards would have sported the then new white and yellow plates in a bid to look 'modern'
Here's another link for you :
http://www.chestnut-registrations.co.uk/vintagepla...
flying dragon said:
May I ask where you can buy new numberplate backing plates only?
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